GENETICALLY DNA TESTED ~ CLEAR FOR OVER 175 GENETIC DISEASES PRONE TO LABRADORS THROUGH EMBARK.  

Genetic DNA testing is important to us.  All of our breeding females have tested -clear- of any genetic diseases prone to labradors.  

Some of those tests included-

PRA ~ stands for Progressive Retinal Atrophy. It is a general term for the group of diseases causing degeneration of the retina, leading to loss of vision. The form of this disorder in Labradors is prcd (Progressive Rod-Cone Degeneration). This leads first to the loss of night vision and then to complete blindness of the dog. The typical onset for this is between age 3 and 5 years of age.

RD/OSD ~ stands for Retinal Dysplasia-retinal folds (RD). Retinal folds can cause blindness in a dog if not corrected by surgery. OSD (OculoSkeletal Dysplasia) is a serious inherited syndrome that causes severe condition in which the dogs show a variety of skeletal malformations, including shortened limbs (dwarfism), and blindness at an early age; the blindness results from a generalized malformation of the retina that causes a partial or full retinal detachment and cataracts.

EIC ~ stands for Exercise-Induced Collapse. It is a devastating genetic disorder causing the affected dog to suffer from loss of muscle control following extreme exercise. This disorder is caused by a mutation in the Dyamin 1 gene. Because EIC is a recessive disorder, a dog must have two copies of the mutation in order for the disease to manifest itself. Typically an affected dog begins to show symptoms between 5 months and 3 years of age.

DM ~ stands for Degenerative myelopathy is a progressive disease, meaning that dogs get slowly weaker and weaker over a four to six month period of time following diagnosis. Degenerative myelopathy usually affects the hind legs first, but muscle weakness can spread to the front legs as well. Dogs with degenerative myelopathy may begin to stumble frequently as they become progressively weaker due to nerve damage. Eventually, dogs with degenerative myelopathy will lose control of their bladder and bowels. As the disease moves into its final stages, symptoms of weakness, trembling and stumbling will begin to affect the front legs as well.  

CNM ~ stands for Centronuclear Myopathy. Puppies are born apparently normal, however, it quickly becomes evident that there is a problem. The puppy will often not gain weight due to decreased muscle tone in the esophagus. By age 2 to 5 months the disease has usually progressed to display the full range of symptoms, including a loss of muscle tone and control, an awkward gait and extreme exercise in tolerance. This condition gets worse in cold conditions. There is not cure for CNM, although the dog can live a normal life span, their muscles tissue will never develop properly.

HNPK~ Heriditary Nasal Parakeratosis is an inherited disease affecting the nose of Labrador Retrievers. Beginning around 6 to 12 months of age, affected dogs develop dry, rough, gray to brown crusts and rarely, painful cracks on the tip of the nose. In some cases, lesions are also present on the haired area around the nose. The noses of affected dogs are prone to superficial bacterial infections and often become depigmented over time. Affected dogs are otherwise healthy. Symptoms often wax and wane in severity over the dog’s life. Though manageable, this disorder requires continuous topical therapy to prevent recurrence of excessive nasal crusting.

SD2 ~ Skeletal Dysplasia  is an inherited Musculoskeletal disease affecting Labrador Retrievers. Affected dogs develop a mild form of “disproportionate dwarfism” consisting of short legs with normal body length and width. The leg bones are shorter, thicker, and slightly curved and the front legs are frequently more affected than rear legs. Joints and eyes are not typically affected with this disease. The height of affected dogs is variable, making diagnosis based on physical characteristics alone challenging in some individuals. Mildly affected dogs from bloodlines known to produce large dogs may still fall within their breed standard for height. The causal Mutation showsIncomplete Penetrance meaning that not all dogs inheriting two copies (one from each parent) will display obvious physical characteristics of dwarfism